Beltless Detector Systems for Combat Vehicles

Abstract

A beltless system for attaching MILES, laser signal-type, sensors to sides of combat vehicles during combat simulations includes at least one mounting magnet attached to each MILES sensor for a vehicle. The sensors can be mounted on respective sides of the vehicle in an arcuate pattern. A common receiver can be in communication with all sensors on a given side of the vehicle via an invisible wireless communication link.

1 . A device that senses incident radiant energy comprising:
 a housing having an exterior peripheral surface;   a magnet carried by the housing adjacent to a portion of the exterior surface;   a sensor of incident radiant energy, the sensor, responsive to incident radiant energy, at least some of which is substantially parallel to a first axis generally perpendicular to a second portion of the exterior surface; and   an emitter of first radiant energy carried by the housing, the emitter is oriented to transmit the radiant energy on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.   
   
   
       2 . A device as in  claim 1  which includes circuitry coupled between the sensor and emitter, and responsive to sensed incident radiant energy, the circuitry activates the emitter to transmit an indicium thereof 
   
   
       3 . A device as in  claim 2  where the emitter comprises one of a light emitting element, or, a radio frequency emitting element. 
   
   
       4 . A device as in  claim 3  where the sensor responds to incoming incident radiation with a wavelength on the order of 905 nm. 
   
   
       5 . A device as in  claim 3  where the light emitting element emits a beam of radiant energy with a wavelength on the order of 940 nm. 
   
   
       6 . A device as in  claim 3  where the circuitry includes at least one amplifier in a transmission path between the sensor and emitter. 
   
   
       7 . A device as in  claim 3  which includes a second sensor, oriented to receive incident radiant energy along the second axis. 
   
   
       8 . A device as in  claim 3  which includes a rechargeable power supply. 
   
   
       9 . A device as in  claim 7  which includes a rechargeable power supply. 
   
   
       10 . A device as in  claim 9  where energy received via the second sensor is coupled to the rechargeable power supply. 
   
   
       11 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of detectors, each detector comprising:   a housing having an exterior peripheral surface;   a magnet carried by the housing adjacent to a portion of the exterior surface;   a sensor of incident radiant energy, the sensor, responsive to incident radiant energy, at least some of which is substantially parallel to a first axis generally perpendicular to a second portion of the exterior surface;   an emitter of hit indicating radiant energy carried by the housing, the emitter is oriented to transmit the radiant energy on a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis; and   a common unit which receives the radiant energy and which retransmits an indication thereof.   
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 11  where the common unit includes a housing, the housing carrying a mounting magnet. 
   
   
       13 . A system as in  claim 11  where the common unit includes first and second, spaced apart, first radiant energy receivers oriented to receive incident radiant energy, some of the incident radiant energy travels substantially in a selected direction toward a respective receiver, and some of the incident radiant energy travels substantially opposite the selected direction toward a respective receiver. 
   
   
       14 . A system as in  claim 13  where at least one of the receivers includes a cut-off optical filter with a selected cut-off wavelength. 
   
   
       15 . A system as in  claim 13  which includes control circuits coupled to the receivers and to an indicator transmitter where the common unit includes first and second, spaced apart, incident radiant energy receivers oriented to receive incident radiant energy, some of the incident radiant energy travels substantially in a selected direction toward a respective receiver, and some of the incident radiant energy travels substantially opposite the selected direction toward a respective receiver. 
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 15  where the indicator transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter. 
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 15  where the common unit includes at least one directional radiant energy transmitter to couple operational electrical energy to respective detectors. 
   
   
       18 . A method comprising:
 establishing a plurality of hit locations on a combat vehicle;   magnetically locating a plurality of detectors at the respective locations on the vehicle with the detectors responding to incoming radiant energy beams representative of incoming hits;   wirelessly transmitting, in a selected direction, from some of the detectors indicia indicative of a sensed hit; and   collecting the indicia at a substantially common location and wirelessly re-transmitting a representation thereof to a displaced location.   
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 18  where transmitting from others of the detectors includes transmitting indicia indicative of an incoming hit opposite the selected direction. 
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 19  where collecting includes receiving the indicia at first and second receiving locations at the common locations. 
   
   
       21 . A method as in  claim 20  which includes establishing line of sight transmission paths between at least some of the detectors and the receiving locations. 
   
   
       22 . A method as in  claim 20  where transmitting includes transmitting beams of coherent light substantially along the selected direction; and
 opposite the selected direction.   
   
   
       23 . A method as in  claim 22  where incoming radiant energy beams, representative of incoming hits, travel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the selected direction. 
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 20  which includes collecting the indicia at first and second, spaced apart, common locations. 
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24  which includes establishing the first and second common locations on opposite sides of the vehicle. 
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 18  where wirelessly transmitting includes adding additional information indicative of hit location to the transmitted indicia.